Along with today’s (buggy) iOS 10.0.1 release (warning: it’s bricking people’s iPhones and iPads), Rogers/Fido, TELUS/Koodo and Bell/Virgin have released 25.1 carrier updates, too.
Bell’s update adds Voice & Data as an option when connected to LTE networks, in other words, allowing users to make calls and use data simultaneously over data. Previously, voice calls would default to HSPA, when using the data network.
In other words, VoLTE has arrived for iPhone users on Bell, to allow wideband, high-quality phone calls, which at this time may be limited to iPhone 6 users or newer (what are you guys seeing?).
How to enable VoLTE? Just go to Settings > Cellular > Enable LTE > ‘Voice & Data’, as seen below:
Rogers launched VoLTE last fall, limited to iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus users.
Thanks Ryan!
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Updated my carrier settings on my iPhone 6S with Virgin (so Bell) at 25.1. Seems like “Voice & Data” was selected by default in the LTE options page on my phone.
Did VoLTE work for you?
How do I know that? The option is enabled to Voice & Data, but not sure how I’m supposed to know if it “works” or not… :/
During a phone call (and out of range for Wi-Fi Calling), if you see LTE next to your carrier name i.e. ••••• Rogers LTE, it means you are using VoLTE. If, however, you see 3G next to your carrier name, it means VoLTE is not activated on your device yet.
VoLTE connects voice calls over the LTE network, and we can use data simultaneously while calling, unlike non-VoLTE which downgrades data network to 3G every time we place a voice call. So this is the easiest way to check if it works.
I am with Bell and got the update but when I dial a number while on LTE still phone switches over to 3G
Did you select ‘Voice & Data’ under ‘Enable LTE’?
Yes I did
I asked a couple of my friends here in AB who are on Bell & had that update but no VoLTE, and it seems Bell has yet to enable it at their end. So maybe Virgin will follow later.
The reason why Bell customers in Alberta/BC aren’t able to use VoLTE is because Telus hasn’t turned it on. Bell Customers in those areas used the Telus network, so right now it’s only turned on for those area’s where Bell customers are actually using their native network.
Oh ok! Then it seems to be working. I made a test call earlier, and it continued displaying “LTE” during the call.
iPhone 6, Virgin Mobile. I don’t have the LTE options in settings. Just on and off.
Someone in the comments about Roger’s VoLTE launch last year seemed to say that Canadian-sold iPhones only supported VoLTE starting from the 6S line. Apparently the iPhone 6 sold here wasn’t the same as in the U.S. Don’t know if it’s true or not, but that might explain why you don’t have the option.
I’ve also heard that some Rogers staff have previously claimed that iPhone 6 models sold in Canada aren’t compatible with VoLTE, but this Apple page (https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht204039) states that “VoLTE is available only on iPhone 6 or later.” That footnote is in reference to Eastlink, Rogers and Fido so I don’t know why Rogers makes such claims.
Sorry, the link I posted isn’t working. Try this one:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht204039
My brother has an iPhone 6s and he doesn’t have the option either. Maybe it’s not rolled out in our area yet.
I now have VoLTE on my iPhone 6 with Fido after I installed the carrier update. I didn’t have it when upgrading to iOS 10, only once I got the 25.1 update.
same here. looks like iPhone 6 got it too with iOS 10 and 25.1
I wonder if this means Rogers will finally enable VoLTE for the iPhone 6.
Just tried a call on Fido network with my iPhone 6 , it continued using LTE for voice as well. This means carrier update 25.1 has enabled VoLTE for iPhone 6.
still nothing on koodo after 25.1
It’s enabled by default on my iPhone 6s on bell
My brother’s iPhone 6s always goes to 3G. He’s on Bell.
I don’t see the option, so maybe Virgin users need not apply.
My brother is not seeing it on his iPhone 6s, Bell. Says he’ll try a reboot.
I had to go to Settings->General->About and click on “carrier” to get the notification about the update
I’m talking about the VoLTE option. We both have the carrier update.
I’m on 25.1 and iOS 10, iPhone 6 plus on Bell – Enable LTE is not an option for me. There is a toggle to enable LTE inside Cellular Data Options, which was there previously.
Go to Settings–Cellular-cellular data options. it will take you to enable LTE- then you pick Voice and data
No dice, just a toggle to Enable LTE. I turn it off and on, nothing happens. No option to select voice and data.
I guess you are not missing much at present as I do not think VoLTE for Bell works. I do not see it working for me
Little more research on this, looks like it may be enabled by default anyway. Thanks for your help.
If you check the article about the Rogers launch last year (last line of the article), someone in the comments seemed to say that Canadian-sold iPhones only supported VoLTE starting from the 6S line. Apparently the iPhone 6/6 Plus sold here wasn’t the same model as in the U.S., and doesn’t support VoLTE. Don’t know if it’s true or not, but that might explain why you don’t have the option.
I’m using VoLTE on Fido iPhone 6 since earlier today
This is false.
The update, according to Bell, is only available to customers on a postpaid plan. So if you use prepaid with prepaid LTE data, it’s not available to you.
I have a 6S on Fido, iOS 9.3.3, carrier 24.2 & my cellular was already checked with voice & data. Did a test call & maintained LTE the whole time, I thought it was iOS10 only?
6S has already worked on Fido with VoLTE for a year or so. It’s new for the iPhone 6.
Thanks for the clarification Babbitt.
I couldn’t enable it, I got a note to call Bell.. my guess is that they’ll ask me to change my old legacy data plan to one of the needlessly expensive share plans.. so I will pass for now.
Anybody have the voicemail transcript working??
Ive updated to iOS 10 and carrier setting 25.1
i checked all the settings still the call goes to 3G
using iPhone 6 Plus Rogers
Robbers, iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 10.0.1, Carrier 25.1, Toronto. VoLTE does NOT work, the phone reverts from LTE to 3G during phone calls.
I have an iPhone 7 Plus and keep getting texts from Virgin saying that “voice over LTE activation failed” and the link goes to a help page about the Samsung Galaxy S6 and nothing about iPhone.
Oh and I did visit the Virgin kiosk who shrugged and said I should call Virgin’s 1-888 number, who kept insisting that “Enable LTE” in settings be green (I don’t know what iOS version he was referring to, but 10.0.1 doesn’t have green there, so he forwarded me to technical support which left me on hold until I accidentally hung up after 38 minutes.